Michele Cotsirilos

3313 Besana Drive

El Dorado Hillls, CA 95762
mca03e1e@westpost.net
Tel: 916-969-3133
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OBJECTIVE
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I am a master's level social worker looking for either full-time or part-time wo
rk in the social work field. I love working with people and would also be intere
sted in related fields where I can make positive contributions to the lives of c
lients.
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MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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I have experience working with troubled youth, the homeless population, substanc
e abusers, the chronically mentally ill, and individuals who are experience psyc
hological pain due to a crisis or or major life change. My educational backgroun
d allows me to have a clinical understanding of psychiatric illnesses both short
and long term. I am very familiar with many of these disorders and the treatmen
t modalities being currently used. I have great people skills and work very hard
to foster a positive professional relationship with others. I have great casema
nagement skills and can be extremely resourceful in providing clients with infor
mation on what services pertinent to their situation is available to them within
the community. I am a great advocate on behalf on the needs of my clients to th
e community. I enjoy helping people move forward in life through working collabo
ratively with the client, their family, and resources within the community.
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EXPERIENCE
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2004 - 3/2009
Peter J. Cotsirilos Jr. M.D. El Dorado Hills, CA
Office manager and psychiatric assistant
I have been an assistant to an outpatient psychiatric practice for over six year
s. I have handled many of the background work including keeping accurate medical
records, scheduling, and various other office duties.I have dealt with the phar
macies and insurance companies on behalf of the patient. I have worked with the
patients over the phone, lending an empathic ear to those who are in need of psy
chiatric care. I have done needs-assessments with the patients in order to educa
te them on their eligibility for various governmental programs as well as other
referrals they may find helpful within the community, Patients have found me ver
y comfortable to be around and talk to. I work hard to make sure that people who
are sufferring through a crisis realize that help is available. I am very famil
iar with the various psychiatric disorders as well as life adjustments that brin
g people to seek psychiatric help.I would sometimes help the patients understand
what treatment they were receiving. I worked with family members in order to he
lp them understand the patient's condition and treatment. I was a big advocate i
n helping the patients link up with a support network that addressed their vario
us needs. I am a big proponent of support networks for those dealing with anythi
ng form a psychiatric disorder to a life change such as divorce. I am very knowl
edgeable about the various treatments being used, both pharmacological and psych
otherapeautic. I am familiar with opiate addictions and the latest treatments av
ailable. A large number of patients seen at the office were recovering from opia
te addictions with the latest suboxone treatment. I have seen many patients over
come their obstactles and turn their sense of victimhood into empowerment in ord
er to go manage their life circumstance and go forward with their life.
8/2002 - 5/2003
Willow Springs Public School Willow Springs , IL
School Social Work Intern
I worked as an effective team member of the Pupil Personnel Services team at Wil
low Springs elementary school, while pursuing my Type 73 Certificate which allow
s me to work as a school social worker in Illinois. I was responsible for direct
counseling of individuals with emotional and behavioral needs. I planned and le
d several groups for students who needed improved social skills due to ADD or ot
her disorders. I did crisis intervention between students and their parents due
to a variety of issues going on at home. I learned how to apply keen clinical i
nsight balanced with practical insight with both my clients and colleagues. I wa
s involved in several crises that year, including suicide assessment, disclosure
and appropriate reporting of sexual abuse, and assisting in team response follo
wing the sudden death of a popular teacher. I was responsible for Functional Beh
avior Assessments, Social Developmental Studies, and colllaboration and consulta
tions with both teachers and parents.I used a variety of formalized assessment t
ools in order to assess behavior, emotional functioning, and functioning adaptiv
e behavior. I used a variety of community resources including mental health fac
ilities in order to advocate and collaborate on behalf of my clients. I was resp
onsible for detailed and accurate documentation and record-keeping. I shared inf
ormation appropriately while at the same time protecting the confidentiality of
students and families.

6/1998 - 10/1999
Methodist Hospital Chicago, IL
Psychiatric Social Worker/ Discharge Planner
I worked on a 42-bed inpatient psychiatric unit in an interdisciplinary team env
ironment. The population consisted of chronically mentally ill patients within t
he young as well as geriatric population. My responsibilites consisted of discha
rge planning which often entailed placements in long-term care facilities. I was
also responsible for for running process as well as psycho-educational groups a
ddressing the needs of the above-mentioned population.
I also participated in cross-training on medical floors with interdisciplinary t
eams to educate patients on current medical issues and treatment. I was also res
ponsible for facilitating and coordinating a safe and appropriate discharge with
the proper supportive services or placement in long-term care facilities.

8/1997 - 7/1999
Waukegan Township- Staben House Waukegan, IL
Relief Manager
My responsibilites as relief manager included the support of secured overnight s
helter devoted to serving homeless women and their children. I was also responsi
ble for many clinical contacts during my duties. I coordinated the residents in
completion of their tasks and duties. I supervised overnight operations, logging
information and keeping staff updated with open lines of communication. I maint
ained the highest security and safety standards. I also trained new staff and vo
lunteers in overnight operations.

8/1997 - 5/1998
Scholarship and Guidance Chicago, IL
Social Worker Intern
I managed a caseload of 10 students at Lake Villa High School as well as youth a
ges 12-25 and parents in a the Chicago downtown facility. I provided both indivi
dual, family and group counseling on diverse issues, including peer relationship
s, family dynamics, sexual abuse, addictions, anger and gang violence. I also co
nducted groups for boys with failing grades as well as groups for teen mothers.
I maintained a professional relationship with teachers and fellow social workers
to address such issues.

5/1997 - 8/1997
Waukegan Township Waukegan , IL
Master's of Social Work Graduate Intern
During my internship I made significant contributions to the development and imp
lementation of a programs that fostered dignity, self-respect, and independence
in clients. I coordinated intakes and made appropriate referrals to other organi
zations and agencies. I developed strong professional relationships with communi
ty leaders, organizations, and agencies in order to support program implementati
on and an effective referral process.

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EDUCATION
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2003 School social work
Type 73 Certificate - Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
I graduated with an M.S.W. degree from an accredited School of Social Work who s
ought out the required courses and required field placement for certification as
a school social worker in Illinois. The required certificate for this is called
a Type 73 certificate.

1998 Social Work

Master of Social Work - Loyola University, Chicago, IL
I graduated from Loyola University in Chicago, IL in1998. I pursued the mental h
ealth track which focused on working with the populations afflictled with mental
health disorders, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, as wel
l as personality disorders such as dependent personality and borderline persona
lity disorder. I studied the different theories of causation as well as treatmen
t modalities found to be most effective in treating all of the above.

1996 Psychology
Bachelor's degree - University of Illinois, Champaigne-Urbana, IL

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INTERESTS
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I am looking to enter the workplace as a master's level social worker with the g
oal of obtaining my L.C.S.W. in California. I have many skills that one would fi
nd beneficial in my field. I can work with a variety of populations with a varie
ty of needs. I am very skilled at becoming acquinted with the resources using my
knowledge of them to educate the client on what services are available to them.
I believe in the resiliency of human beings to overcome challenges their life
and grow from them. I am a firm believer in empowering individuals in order to p
rovide hope and not helplessness. It is my hope that I can use my skills to help
 your organization and clients deal with life issues in a positive way that enab
les them to move forward.